High-speed tape perforator

ABSTRACT

A high-speed paper tape perforator is disclosed including a series of punches each adapted to be actuated by a corresponding kinematic train. Each train includes a selection electromagnet for selecting the punches to be actuated. A frame common to the kinematic trains cyclically actuates the trains. A kinematic train actuated by the common frame is also provided for advancing the paper tape alternately with each perforation cycle.

United States Patent [15] 3,707,262

Costa et al. [4 1 Dec. 26, 1972 [54] HIGH-SPEED TAPE PERFORA TOR [56] References Cited [72] Inventors: Armando Costa; Giovanni Ceruttl, UNITED STATES PATENTS bah My 3,132,197 5/1964 Turner et al ..234/119 x [73] Assignee: Ing. C. Olivetti 8: C., S.p.A., lvrea (Torino), Italy Primary Examiner-James M. Meister [22] Filed: No 1970 Attorney-Birch, Swindler, McKie 8c Beckett 21 Appl. No.: 92,778 s7 ABSTRACT A high-speed paper tape perforator is disclosed in- Foreign APlllicalhm Priority Dali cluding a series of punches each adapted to be actu- Nov. 28 1969 Italy ..54l96 A/69 by a P 8 kinematic Each includes a selection electromagnet for selecting the 52 us. Cl ..234/1'19 be actuated- A frame 51] 1111.01. ..G06k 1/02 cycliwlly mates the A kinematic 58 Field of Search ..234/1'19 actuated by the frame is Pmvided for advancing the paper tape alternately with each perforation cycle.

10 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTED nin m2 3. 707 262 SHEET 1 OF 2 @LLL Fig. 2

([oqmoomow 1 HIGH-SPEED TAPE PERFORATOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a high-speed tape perforator for teleprinters or other devices which produce punched tape, comprising a series of punches each adapted to be actuated by a corresponding toggletype kinematic train under the control of a corresponding selection electromagnet.

A paper tape perforator is known in which each toggle-type kinematic train is operated directly by aneccentric mounted on the driving shaft and in which the selection of the punches which are to perforate is carried out by electromagnets. In this perforator, each electromagnet controls a stop for an element of the associated toggle, for which reason the kinematic selection train hasonly a unilateral connection with the toggle. The apparatus is therefore relatively slow and not very exact in operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The perforator of this invention provides a highspeed tape perforator, comprising a series of punches eachadapted to be actuated'by a corresponding kinematic train including a toggle under the control of a corresponding selection electromagnet, wherein each toggle is connected to a lever bearing the armature of the corresponding selection electromagnet, means being provided for cyclically actuating the toggle and for bringing the armatures into contact with the corresponding electromagnets with a predetermined phasing with respect to the action of the toggle.

The invention will be described in more detail, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

V BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The perforator is adapted to operate at high speed, for example 50 characters per second. It comprises a series of eight punches (FIG. 1.) adapted to perforate a paper tape 12 in accordance with an eight-unit code, and a central punch 11 (FIG. 2)-with a diameter slightly smaller than that of the other punches and adapted to make the draw or feed holes in the tape. The tape 12 is guided in a slot 13 (FIG. 1) formed in a perforation die 14. The punches 10 and 11 are located in a common vertical plane and, in addition to being guided by the die 14, are also guided by a drilled cross-piece 16. The die 14 and the crossspiece 16 are fixed to two side plates .17 and18 (FIG. 2) of the fixed frame of the perforator.

Each of the punches l0 and 11 is actuated by a kinematic train indicated generally by the reference 19 (FIG. 1) and comprising a lever 21, a connecting rod 22, two toggle levers 23 and 24 and a rocking lever 26. Each lever 21 comprises two laminations 27 and 28 (FIG.'6) connected together'by a covering 29 of plastic material and by three pins 30. The covering 29 has in tegral therewith a collar 35 which turns on a shaft 31 and forms an anti-friction bush or bearing for the shaft 31. This shaft is supported by the two side plates 17 and 18 (FIG-2). The laminations 27 and 28 form two arms 32 and 33 (FIG. 6). At the end of the arm 32 the laminations are bent to form a fork 34 (FIG. 2).

Between the two laminations 27 and. 28 of the fork 34 extends a pin 36 (FIG. 6) on which the connecting rod 22is pivoted. The two laminations 27 and 28 of the arm 33, on the other hand, are spaced from one another, leaving between them a space 37 in which is housed an armature 38 pivoted on a pin 39 fixed to the arm 33. The armature 38 is adapted to cooperate with a selection electromagnet 41 (FIG. 1).

In order to accommodate all nine electromagnets within the width of the tape, the electromagnets 41 are aligned alternately in two rows. Five of the nine electromagnets 41 are aligned in a position such that their armatures 38 are substantially horizontal, while the other four are disposed below the shaft 31 in a position such that their armatures are oblique. Although the levers 21 have their arms 32 all aligned, their arms 33 are altemately' offset from one another and face the corresponding electromagnet 41. p

The lever 24 also comprises two laminations 42 and 43 (FIG. 6) interconnected by a first pin 44 on which the connecting rod 22 is pivotechby a second pin 46 fixed at the upper end to which the rocking lever 26 is articulated, and by a third pin 47 fixed at the lower end on which the lever 23 is pivoted. The rocking levers 26 are fulcrumed on a single shaft 48 supported by the two side plates 17 and 18 (FIG. 2) and each of them has knuckle 49 (FIG. 6) in engagement with a hollow 51 formed in the corresponding punch 10, 1 1.

The parts 22, 23 and 26 of the kinematic train each comprise a single lamination which is embraced by the two laminations 27 and 28 and 42 and 43, respectively, of which the parts 21 and 24 are formed. In this way, the joints of the toggle are centered in the thickness of the parts themselves, so that the stresses are symmetrical and lateral thrusts on these joints are eliminated. Thus, sticking or twisting is eliminated and the perforator can be actuated at high speed.

The levers 23 and 24 are normally aligned in a substantially vertical plane. The levers 23 are moreover pivoted on a common shaft 52 belonging to a frame indicated generally by the reference 53 (FIG. 2) and comprising two side pieces 54 and 56 parallel to one another and fulcrumed on the shaft 31. Each of the side pieces 54 and 56 is provided with two lugs 57 and 58, respectively, (FIG. 1), parallel to one another and cooperating with corresponding cams 59 and 61 keyed on a shaft 62. This shaft is rotatable cyclically in the side pieces 17 and 18 and constitutes the main shaft of the perforator. The cams 59 and 61 have three like lobes and cause the movable frame 53 to perform three oscillations for each revolution of the shaft 62.

In the side pieces 54 and 56there'are fixed two shafts 63 adapted to cooperatewith a shoulder 64 ofeach armature 38, and two shafts 65 to which there are attached springs 66 adapted to hold each arm 33 normally with the shoulder 64 bearing on the shaft 63.

Advance of the tape 12is obtained by means of a pin wheel 67 keyed on a shaft 68 rotatable in the side plates 17 and 18 (FIG. 2). The wheel 67 is arranged in the same plane as the central punch 11 and has pins of the same diameter as this punch. Also keyed on the shaft 68 is a ratchet wheel 69 which is rotated by a pawl mechanism actuated by the cam 61. Thus a V-shaped lever 71 (FIG. 3) fulcrumed on a shaft 72 is provided with two lugs 73 parallel to one another and engaging the cam 61. The lever 71 has a projection 74 to which there is fixed a pin 76 engaged in a slot 77 in an arm 78 of a bail 79. This bail is fulcrumed on a shaft 81 supported by the side plates 17 and 18 (FIG. 2).

connected together by a covering 86 of plastic material similar to the covering'29 (FIG. 1). The lever 84 (FIG. 3) has two arms 87and 88 of a form substantially similar to that of the levers 21, with the arm 88 substantially vertical. At the end of the arm 87 the two laminations are bent to form a fork carrying a pin 89 on which is pivoted a connecting rod 91. The laminations of the arm 88 are bent so as to be spaced from one another and define between them a space 92 in which an armature 93 is housed. This armature is pivotedon a pin 94 of the arm 88 and is adapted to co-operate with an electromagnet 96. Between the arm 78 and the arm 83 there is arranged a pin 97adapt'ed to co-operate with a shoulder 98 of the armature 93. A spring 99 stretched between a pin 101 located at the end of the arm 83 and the arm 88 normally keeps the shoulder 98 bearing against the pin 97. v

Between the arm 82 and the arm 78 is arranged a pin 102 on which is pivoted one end of a lever103. The other end of the lever 103 is pivoted between two laminations disposed side by side and forming a lever 104 which, together with the lever 103, forms a toggle. The two laminations of the lever 104 are provided in the central portion thereof with two projections 106 bearinga pin 107 on which is pivoted the other end of the connecting rod 91. The lever 84, the connecting rod 91 and the toggle levers 103 and 104 form a kinematic train substantially similar to the kinematic trains 19, so that this kinematic train is also adapted to operate at high speed without any lateral forces.

At the upper end of the lever 104 is fixed a pin 108 'on which a pawl 109 is articulated. The pawl is fulcrumed on a pin 111 fixed to one end of a lever 112 which can turn on the shaft 68 and is normally held so that it bears against a fixed stop 113 by the action of a spring 114. The pawl 109 is bent to present a tooth 116 in correspondence with a space of the ratchet wheel 69.

The wheel 69 is held in the position it has reached by means of a detent comprising a cylindrical socket 117 in which there is housed a compression spring 118 urging a small ball 119 into a space of the wheel 69. The socket 117 is fixed to the side plate 18 by a screw 12].

On the shaft 62 (FIG. 2) there are keyed two discs 122 and 123 on the peripheries of which there are arranged three magnetic indicators 124 and 126, respectively, which are adapted to cooperatewith two electromagnets 127 and 128, respectively, for the purpose of inducting two timing signals. The indicators on the same disc are spaced by 120, while the phase displacement of the disc 122 with respect to the disc 123 has a lag of 30. The signal issuing from the electromagnet 127 commands the energization of the electromagnets 41, which are concerned with the perforation, while the signal issuing from the electromagnet 1-28 in the presence of a'code to be punched commands in known manner the energization of the electromagnet 96 which is concerned with the advance of the tape.

The perforator operates in the following manner. The shaft 62 is normally in continuous rotation, for which reason the perforation is effected in synchronous manner. A perforation cyclealways begins with an executive stage, which is followed by a stage of advance of the tapeflo this end, the perforation cycle begins when one of the three magnetic indicators 124 of the disc 122 is in correspondence with the electromagnet 127.' In this position, shown in FIG. 1, all the armatures 38 are just completing their approach to the respective electromagnets 41. The signal emitted by the electromagnet 127 retrieves a code combination corresponding to the character to be punched. from the store, causing the corresponding electromagnets 41 to be energized selectively. The electromagnet 41corresponding to the central punch 11 is energized to com-- mand the punching of the draw hole in the tape.

After a counter clockwise rotation of the shaft 62 for I about 22 degrees, the perforator is brought into the position shown in H0. 1, in which each punch 10 is at the lower end of its individual stroke The cams 59 and 61 each have one of their three lobes directed downwardly and hold the frame 53 in the position in which his turned clockwise. Moreover, all the armatures 38 are held by-the shafts 63 in contact with the respective electromagnets 41, which are already energized selectively. After a further rotation of the shaft 62 for 60, the cams 59 and 61 cause the frame 53 to perform a counter clockwise oscillation on the shaft 31. All the levers 23 are thus pushed upwards by the shaft 52 into the position shown either in FIG. 4 or in FIG. 5.

' Those electromagnets 41 which have not been energized (H6. 4) do not retain the corresponding armatures 38. In consequence, owing to the action of the springs 66, the corresponding shoulders 64 are kept bearing on the shafts 63, while the levers 21 perform a counter clockwise oscillation about the shaft 31. The levers 24, pulled by the connecting rods 22 towards the arms 32, collapse the toggle levers 23, 24. The corresponding levers 23 do not transmit their upward movement to the rocking levers 26 and, therefore, the punches 10 do not effect the perforation.

0n the other hand, those electromagnets 4! (P10. 5) which have been energized, overcome the action of the corresponding springs 66 and keep the corresponding armatures 38 in contact. Consequently, the respective levers 21 do not change their initial position and,

- through the connecting rods 22, keep the levers 24 in a During the further rotation of the main shaft 62 for 38, the earns 59 and 61 are brought back into the initial position shown by dashes in FIG. 1, in which another magnetic indicator 124 is in correspondence with the electromagnet 127. At the same time, all the punches and 11 have disengaged themselves from the tape 12 and are just completing their downward stroke, being pulled down by the levers 23. At the same time, the shafts 63 bring back the detached armature 38 into contact with the corresponding electromagnets 41 which have not been energized.

At each perforation cycle, when all the punches l0 and 11 are disengaged from the tape, the advance of the tape 12 takes place. The advance stage is displaced by a phase lag of 90 with respect to the perforation stage described above. In fact, the lever 71 (FIG. 3) is actuated by the cam 61 with a phase displacement lagging by 90 with respect to the movable frame 53. Moreover; owing to the phase displacement between thedisc 122 and the disc 123, a magnetic indicator 126 is located in correspondence with the electromagnet 128 after the cams 59. and 61 have performed a rotation of 90 from thebeginning of the perforation stage. In this position, turned through 90 and shown in dashes in FIG. 3, the armature 93 is just completing its approach to the corresponding electromagnet 96. The signal emitted by the electromagnet 128 retrieves from the store an advanced command signal which causes the electromagnet 96 to be energized.

After a counter clockwise rotation of the shaft 62 for 22 the perforator is brought into the position shown in FIG. 3, in which the lever 71 is turned clockwise and, by means of the bail 79, brings the armature 93 into contact with the corresponding electromagnet 96. Moreover, the lever 103 is at the lower end of its stroke and holds the tooth 116 of the pawl 109 disengaged from the wheel 69.

In the following rotation of the shaft 62 through 27, while the punches 10 and 11 are just completing their downward stroke, the earns 59 and 61 cause the lever 71 to perform a counterclockwise rotation. In consequence, the arms 78, 82 and83 undergo an upward movement, while the lever 84 remains stationary, the armature 93 remaining attracted by the energized electromagnet 96. With this movement, the lever 103, acting through the lever 104, causes the pawl 109 to turn counter clockwise about the pin 1 11 until the tooth 1 16 engages in the corresponding space of the wheel 69.

With a further rotation of the shaft 62 through 33, the lever 71 completes its counter clockwise travel. Consequently, the levers 103 and 104 are brought to the upper end of their stroke. Since the tooth 1 16 is engaged in a space of the wheel 69, the pawl no longer turns about the pin 111. Overcoming the action of the spring 114, it now turns the lever 112 clockwise about the shaft 68, thus causing the wheel 69 to perform a rotation corresponding to an advance by one tooth while the punches 10, 11 are disengaged from the tape 12. At the same time, the wheel 67 also performs a rotation corresponding to the advance of one pin thereof. This pin, being normally engaged in the draw holes made by the central punch 11, causes the tape 12 to advance. The locating detent, now in engagement with a following space of the ratchet wheel holds this wheel 69 stationary in its new position.

During the following rotation of the shaft 62 for 38 degrees, the advancing device is'brought back into the initial position shown by dashes in FIG. 3, in which another indicator 126 is located in the proximity of the electromagnet 128, while the punches 10 and 11 effect the following perforating operation.

It is therefore clear that each toggle 23, 24 is connected to a lower 21 bearing the armature 38 of the corresponding selection electromagnet 41, and that the means 53, 59 and 61 are provided for cyclically actuating the toggle levers 23, 24 and for bringing the armatures 38 into contact with the corresponding electromagnet 41 with a predetermined phasing with respect to the actuation of the toggle levers 23, 24.

It will be understood that many changes may be made in the embodiment of the invention disclosed herein without departure from the. invention. Accordinglyrthe invention is not to be considered limited to the embodiment disclosed but rather only by the scope of the appended claims.

lclaim:

1. A high speed tape perforator comprising:

a plurality of punches located adjacent to said tape,

a punch selection electromagnet associated with each punch of said plurality of punches, and

a kinematic train associated with said electromagnet and operable thereby to actuate the associated punch, said kinematic train including a collapsible toggle having a driven end and a driving end operatively associated with said punch,

a movablelever connected between an armature of said electromagnet and said toggle,

carrying means for cyclically carrying said armature into contact with said electromagnet to bring said driven end and said driving end of said toggle in alignment along a predetermined direction,

said electromagnet being selectively excited for keeping said armature in contact with said electromagnet for a predetermined interval of time and,

moving means connected to said driving end and cyclically operable for moving said driving end in said predetermined interval along said direction, whereby said driven end when so aligned is moved by said driving end in said direction to actuate the associated punch.

2. A tape perforator as claimed in claim 1 wherein said carrying means and said moving means comprise a common actuating frame associated with the driven end of said toggle.

3. A tape perforator as claimed in claim 2 wherein said moving means comprise means for actuating said common frame comprising a milti-lobed cam.

4. A tape perforator as claimed in claim 3 comprising means for advancing said paper tape located adjacent said tape,

an advance toggle having a driving end and a driven end, said driving end being operatively associated with said tape advance means,

an advance electromagnet associated with said toggle, and

an advance armature bearing lever coupled to said toggle and cooperating with said advance electromagnet to place said toggle in a driving position, the driven end of said advance toggle being operatively associated with and responsive to said multi-lobed cam to advance said paper tape.

5. A tape perforator as claimed in claim 4 comprising an advance control lever cooperating with said cam and having a phase displacement of 909 with respect to said common frame.

6. A tape perforator as claimed in claim 5 wherein said cam has three lobes. v

7. A tape perforator as claimed in claim 4 including means for regulating the advance of said paper tape to follow perforating said tape.

8. A tape perforator as claimedin claim 7 wherein said advance regulating means comprise a disc fast with said cam, position indicators carried on the periphery of said disc, and a detector associated with said indicators and coupled to said selection electromagnets and comprise alternately a single lamination and twolaminations disposed side by side and adapted to embrace a single lamination of an adjacent element. 

1. A high speed tape perforator comprising: a plurality of punches located adjacent to said tape, a punch selection electromagnet associated with each punch of said plurality of punches, and a kinematic train associated with said electromagnet and operable thereby to actuate the associated punch, said kinematic train including a collapsible toggle having a driven end and a driving end operatively associated with said punch, a movable lever connected between an armature of said electromagnet and said toggle, carrying means for cyclically carrying said armature into contact with said electromagnet to bring said driven end and said driving end of said toggle in alignment along a predetermined direction, said electromagnet being selectively excited for keeping said armature in contact with said electromagnet for a predetermined interval of time and, moving means connected to said driving end and cyclically operable for moving said driving end in said predetermined interval along said direction, whereby said driven end when so aligned is moved by said driving end in said direction to actuate the associated punch.
 2. A tape perforator as claimed in claim 1 wherein said carrying means and said moving means comprise a common actuating frame associated with the driven end of said toggle.
 3. A tape perforator as claimed in claim 2 wherein said moving means comprise mEans for actuating said common frame comprising a milti-lobed cam.
 4. A tape perforator as claimed in claim 3 comprising means for advancing said paper tape located adjacent said tape, an advance toggle having a driving end and a driven end, said driving end being operatively associated with said tape advance means, an advance electromagnet associated with said toggle, and an advance armature bearing lever coupled to said toggle and cooperating with said advance electromagnet to place said toggle in a driving position, the driven end of said advance toggle being operatively associated with and responsive to said multi-lobed cam to advance said paper tape.
 5. A tape perforator as claimed in claim 4 comprising an advance control lever cooperating with said cam and having a phase displacement of 90* with respect to said common frame.
 6. A tape perforator as claimed in claim 5 wherein said cam has three lobes.
 7. A tape perforator as claimed in claim 4 including means for regulating the advance of said paper tape to follow perforating said tape.
 8. A tape perforator as claimed in claim 7 wherein said advance regulating means comprise a disc fast with said cam, position indicators carried on the periphery of said disc, and a detector associated with said indicators and coupled to said selection electromagnets and said advance electromagnet, said detector being responsive to said indicators to supply commands to said electromagnets.
 9. A tape perforator as claimed in claim 1 wherein said lever bearing the armature of a selection electromagnet comprises two laminations disposed side by side and interconnected by a covering of plastic material, said lever having integral therewith a collar forming an anti-friction bearing for the rotation of the lever.
 10. A tape perforator as claimed in claim 9, wherein the elements comprising each of said kinematic trains comprise alternately a single lamination and two laminations disposed side by side and adapted to embrace a single lamination of an adjacent element. 